David Corkery on rugby: Munster need to sort scrum issues now but Leinster might need a new voice

The result didn't go the way Munster wanted and the game lacked the excitement that we had all hoped for.

With a starting front row comprised of three players that the opposition deemed surplus to requirements, so, mentally, Munster were on the back foot long before a ball was kicked at Thomond Park.

Milne, Barron and Ala’alatoa were all let go by Leo Cullen. Deemed not good enough by Leinster's coaching ticket.

Maybe it’s just me but it seems criminal that a province that produced players like John Hayes, Peter Clohessy, Keith Wood, Frankie Sheahan, Dave Kilcoyne, Tony Buckley, Marcus Horan and Jerry Flannery, to name but a few, now depend on the Leinster conveyer belt to fill all three starting berths in the front row.

Ever since Munster commenced their competitive season against the Scarlets way back in September, they have had four true tests against title contenders.

The first of those was against Leinster in Croke Park, which Clayton McMillan and his troops passed with flying colours. The next was against South Africa’s DHL Stormers in Thomond Park. This was a game where Munster looked to be in full control, leading 21-6 at half-time, but as soon as the visitors changed five of their forwards, the Munster scrum collapsed and they went on to lose the game 21-27.

Game number three was away to Bath in the Champions Cup, where once again the woeful scrum became the catalyst for what will go down as one of Munster’s worst losses in the professional era: 40-14.

Finally, game four was on Saturday evening and guess what? Once again, it was the scrum and the penalties that arose from Leinster’s dominance that allowed them to lead from start to finish.

Against the lesser teams, the likes of Milne, Barron and Ala’alatoa will do a great job and the issue will be masked. However, to win titles, not only must you have a world-class starting front row, but the replacement props and hooker you have sitting on the bench must be equally capable if not more destructive.

This is how the modern scrum has developed and without the firepower to match whatever is thrown at you, your chances are limited.

For well over 15 years now, World Rugby have been tinkering with the laws that govern the scrum to make the game a more attractive spectacle for the supporters and a safer one for the players. If you examine what transpired on Saturday evening in Limerick, you could only say they have failed miserably.

In a game that furnished us with an incredible amount of bravery and commitment by both sides, how many minutes were wasted with scrum reset after reset? And how frustrating did this become for those watching from the terraces and the comfort of their front rooms?

As a true contest of power and tact, the scrum is already diluted away to nothing because the scrum-half is now allowed to feed the ball directly into the second row's feet. This alone makes a complete mockery of what the scrum once stood for.

Unless World Rugby can safely solve the many issues that are now arising because of the power that the modern players are producing, it won’t be long before the scrum sadly becomes an uncontested part of the sport.

Other points:

Many think the recent performances of Harry Byrne as a realistic contender for the number 10 jersey for both Leinster and Ireland is a good thing. However, the international side requires a fly-half whose name is first choice on every team sheet.

I don’t think that many would argue that Byrne out-played Jack Crowley on Saturday and that Sam Prendergast is now Leinster’s number two playmaker. 

Having three options is well and good but I’d happily take one superstar over three good ones.

Normally, we would judge how Munster are doing against Leinster, but not this year.

Leinster are still a very good side, but other teams have either found a way to mimic their strategies or they have become lazy and their blueprint needs to be completely overhauled. 

Maybe it's time for Leo Cullen to move on?

Ulster away next weekend will offer Munster another very stern challenge. It will be very interesting to see who McMillan selects to hold down the scrum...